Research Assistant, COMS-A

Research Assistant, COMS-A University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) Kigali, Rwanda Job Description: Research Assistant, WIL and MNCH Programs Position Title: Research Assistant, WIL and MNCH Programs Reports to: Director, COMS-A Location: COMS-A Secretariat, Kigali, Rwanda (hosted by the University of Global Health Equity) Contract Type: Full-time, one year, renewable depending on funding availability About COMS-A The Consortium of Medical Schools–Africa (COMS-A) is a bold, continent-wide initiative launched in March 2025 at the Medical Education 2025 Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Bringing together more than 135 medical schools from 30+ countries, COMS-A provides a unified, African-led platform to strengthen medical education and research, harmonize curricula, foster collaboration, and shape policy in alignment with continental and global frameworks. About the SHINE Initiative COMS-A is launching the SHINE Initiative, a major continental program focused on two critical strategic priorities: Women in Leadership (WIL) in African medical education. Advancing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) and Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health (GSRH) through medical education, research, and simulation-based training. To support these ambitious continental programs, COMS-A is recruiting this position for the Secretariat. Position Summary The Research Assistant will provide research, data, and monitoring and evaluation support to both SHINE workstreams: Women in Leadership (WIL) and MNCH and GSRHR. This includes supporting baseline and follow-up studies, providing quantitative and qualitative data support, coordinating surveys and research activities across COMS-A institutions, and contributing to literature reviews, policy briefs, and academic manuscripts. The Research Assistant will work closely with both Program Leads and the Secretariat team. Key Responsibilities Support the continental baseline study on women in leadership in African medical schools, including data collection, management, and analysis. Assist with qualitative and quantitative research activities for both WIL and MNCH workstreams, including instrument development, data collection, transcription, coding, cleaning, and basic analysis. Coordinate online and institutional surveys across COMS-A member schools, ensure data quality, and maintain updated databases. Provide research and coordination support to the COMS-A MNCH Research Mentorship Program, including tracking projects, supporting training activities, and assisting with ethics and reporting requirements. Contribute to the development of MNCH and gender-responsive educational resources, curricula, and case studies by compiling evidence and supporting content drafting. Prepare literature reviews and contribute to policy briefs, technical reports, conference abstracts, and academic manuscripts. Support monitoring and evaluation for both workstreams, including indicator tracking, data visualization, and preparation of M&E summaries